NBC
will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas
tree with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City
on Wednesday, Nov. 28 (8 p.m.). The star-studded holiday special will
feature performances from Trace Adkins, Mariah Carey, CeeLo Green,
Victoria Justice, Chris Mann, Rod Stewart and Il Volo, and special
appearances by Billy Crystal and Bette Milder.

The
80th annual holiday extravaganza will feature a Norway spruce that is
approximately 80 feet tall, 50 feet in diameter and weighs
approximately 10 tons. The tree is estimated to be about 80 years
old.

The
tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to the Great
Depression. First erected in 1933, the inaugural tree was decked with
700 lights and placed in front of the then eight-month-old RCA
Building, now the GE Building. The Christmas tree gathering was
enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor
ice-skating pond. NBC-TV televised the tree lighting for the first
time in 1951 on "The Kate Smith Show" and as part of the
nationwide "Howdy Doody" television show from 1953-55.

Prior
to this year's primetime telecast, there will be an additional live
hour of the special from 7 to 8 p.m. (ET).